MCF resumes operations

MCF resumes operations

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 08, 2015: The Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (MCF) the only fertilizer factory of the state, which was shut down , has resume d operations since January 7, Wednesday. The plant which remained closed since the past three months, is once again abuzz with activity.

It may be recalled here that over 2000 employees as well as thousands of farmers had staged several protests urging the government not to shut down the plant for any reason. Even the elected representatives from the district had drawn the attention of the government towards the issue.

The MCF had suspended operations following the Union Government order cancelling subsidy to naphtha with the intention of going in for gas based plants. This had led to suspension of MCF operations from September 30.

MCF now has all arrangements for gas based manufacture of fertilizers and has spent Rs 305 crores on the infrastructure. However the delay in land acquisition process has led to a delay in laying gas pipeline. As MCF cannot lay the pipelines on its own the state government has to take the initiative with Central aid. The pipeline has been laid from Dhabol to Chitradurga va Bengaluru and the government has a proposal to extend it upto Mangaluru.

KN Sooryanarayana , President of MCF Mangala Labour Union who expressed happiness over MCF resuming operations hoped that the pipeline extension would be complete within three months as the government has now permitted MCF to continue operations for three months.